Coin slide



NOV. 5, 1935. Q Q LEGGETT 2,020,148

COIN SLIDE Filed Sept. 27, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. .5, 1935. G. O. LEGGETT 2,020,148

CO.IN SLIDE Filed Sept. 2'7, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 6 "W I g I ":10 f .9 F .10 F .11 F1 .13 3i 5 g 6 Patented Nov. 5, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 9 Claims.

The invention relates to an improved coin slide to be used in connection with any kind of coin released device such, for example, as vending machines and games.

Unscrupulous persons have created quite a problem in connection with the use of coin released devices in that they employ all kinds and many varieties of fictitious coins and slugs to operate such devices. Efforts have been made by coin slide designers to thwart such objectionable practices by providing magnet and stop dog attachments to prevent use of magnetic and certain other slug substitutes for the intended, authentic coin. But the persons mentioned have only been spurred on it seems by such attachments to develop different forms of slugs that the slide would not reject, soto speak. For example,

an obvious getaround on the magnet attachment is to employ an non-magnetic slug. Thus, even these relatively complicated coin slides are far from fool-proof.

The main object of this invention is to provide a coin slide which will operate only when a certain coin, in this embodiment, the buffalo nickel or five cent piece now in circulation, is used; and. absolutely, without question, to reject any other coin or slug substitute therefor.

Another object is to provide a slide having a plurality of feelers to engage the surface contour of the coin used to operate the slide, the arrangementto' be so constructed as to prevent undue wear of, the said feelers. Still another object isto simplify such coin slides by eliminating among other things the magnet heretofore employed to stop magnetic coins or slugs. V

Another object is generally to improve coin slides by reducing costs of production thereof without in any way sacrificing the effectiveness thereof in stopping the use of any coin other than, in this embodiment, the said buffalo nickel.

Other objects will become apparent to those versed in this art as the disclosure is more fully made.

A plurality of feelers are pivotally carried in a carrier mounted on -the' slide for independent movement relative to the slide. As the slide is pushed through the guide the coin is yieldingly pressed-upwardly so that the buffalo contour on the topside of the nickel must be engaged by at least one of the'feelers. These feelers are so set that as they engage the top surface of the coin the slide picks up the carrier to move therewith and if the coin is authentic these feelers pass an abutment to permit the full intended stroke of 5 he slide to take the nickel. If the coin is fictitious the feeler members,or at least one of them strike the abutment to prevent the full stroke of the slide and thereby reject the coin, or in other words, to make the slide inoperative, all as will 10 presently, more fully appear.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a general side elevational View ofthe improved slide;

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof; 15

Figure 3 is a transverse cross sectional view through the slide taken along the line 33 of Figure 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal, side sectional view 20 through the slide taken along the line 44 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

tional views throughthe nickel taken along the 35' lines 99, l0l0; and Hl l of Figure 8 to illustratethe surface contour areas of the nickel that are employed in the feeler operation of testing the coin;

Figure 12 is a longitudinal sectional view, on an 40 enlarged scale and corresponding with Figure 4 to illustrate the coin in feeler position after the slide has been inserted into theguide frame part way; 7

Figure 13 is a longitudinal sectional view, on 4 an enlarged scale and corresponding with Figure 5 to illustrate the coin'in feeler position; and,

Figure 14 is-still another longitudinal sectional view; on an enlarged scale and corresponding with Figure? to'illustrate the coin in feeler posifaces of the edges H are formed with parallel grooves l8 and I9. This guide portion l6 extends a short distance forwardly of the frame piece l5 as shown at 20; said extension having formed therein a circular hole 2| therethrough of somewhat smaller size than the size of the authentic coin intended to be handled, which in the present embodiment of the invention, is the buffalo nickel, or five cent piece now constituting somewhat better than eighty percent of the five cent pieces in circulation.

Immediately to the rear of the frame I5 the bottom of the guide I6 is recessed to form a rec-J tangular sink 22 in which is placed a light flat, spring 23 tending to push upwardly a rectangular disk or platform 24 having a chamfered upper front and rear marginal edge 25, as shown. Rearwardly, the desired short distance, of this sink 22, the bottom of the guide I6 is provided with a circular coin drop hole 26.

Adjacent its rear end, the guide l6 as shown best in Figures 1, 3 and 12, carries a cross arch 21 appropriately carried on the sides IT as for example by screws 28, said arch piece being suitably raised above the slide structure and including an upper cross abutment bar 29 and a similar lower abutment 'bar 30, said arch having a forwardly and upwardly inclined hood or extension which is turned down as at 3| to provide an opening or throat 32 for a purpose later to appear.

Slid into the guide |6 from the front end of the device and guided for sliding movement in the channel grooves I8 on the edge walls I1 is a coin insertion slide 33 having a bent end 34 to aid manual manipulation thereof. Said slide 33 is formed near its front end with a coin receiving hole 35 which is larger'than the hole 2| normally located therebelow in the starting position of the'parts. A cross tell-tale line 36 is formed in the slide 33, as shown in Figure 2 for a purpose later to appear.

The under side of the slide 33 is grooved out shallowly as at 31 for a considerable portion of its length, said groove 31 serving to slide over the platform 24 as shown. Further the slide 33 serves to hold the platform 24 within its sink 22, the spring 23 acting to press the saidplatform 24 yieldingly upwardly against the under side of the slide 33 in an obvious manner. The slide 33 on its top side carries a stud 38 normally located over the hole 26 when the parts are in the position shown in Figure 5, for example.

Mounted for sliding movement in the grooves l9 on the inner portion of the edges I! of the guide It and above the slide 33 to the rear of the frame l5, is a carrier plate'39, having a central elongated slot 40 fitting around the stud 38. The forward portion of this fiat carrier 39 is formed at one edge with a cut out presenting an arcuate edge 4|) and inwardly therefrom, along the longitudinal median line of the carrier are provided two spaced holes 4| and 42. To the rear of the hole 42 is provided a cross block 43 suitably made a rigid part of the carrier.

This carrier block 43 has a longitudinal slot 44, a second similar slot 45 spaced therefrom, and a third slot 46. A transverse pivot pin 4! is passed through the block 43 and serves pivotally to mount a first feeler lever 48 in the slot 44; a second feeler lever 49in the slot 45; and a third feeler lever 50 in the slot 46. Each of these levers 48, 49 and 50 extend rearwardly quite a distance and have their upper and lower edges appropriately tapered and their rear ends formed with somewhat enlarged heads 5| formed with an upper notch 52 adapted to cooperate with the upper abutment bar 29 and a similar lower notch 53 to cooperate with the lower bar 30.

Forwardly of their fulcrums and only a short 5 distance therefrom, each lever is formed with a specially shaped downwardly extending feeler. For instance, the front end of the lever 48 as shown in Figure 14 has a depending arcuate feeler 54 fitting down adjacent the curved edge 40' in 10 the carrier plate 39. (See Figure 6.) The front end of the lever 49 as shown in Figure 13 is formed with a depending pointed prong 55 adapted to move through the hole 42 in the plate 39; while the front end of the lever 50 has a depending l5 cylindrical prong extension 56 as shown in Figure 9 which may move through the hole 4| in the plate 39.

7 Beneath the block 43 there is clamped a rearwardly extending flat spring having three por- 20 ti0ns51 adapted respectively to be located under the three levers 48, 49and 50 to force said levers up at their rear ends and consequently down in feeling positions at their front ends. A rear side edge of the carrier plate 39 carries an upstand- 5 ing post 58 for connecting the end of a retractor spring 59, the other end of said spring being connected to a clip 60 on the rear face of the frame l5.

As has been said the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated is designed for use 30 with the buffalo five cent piece. As the feelers are herein specifically constructed to test the buffalo surface contour or embossing of such coin, it becomes necessary to give some consideration to the characteristic surface form of said coin. 35 Such coin is illustrated in Figures 8 to 11 inclusive. Looking at the buffalo surface of the coin shown in Figure 8 we find three outstanding surface characteristics or areas embossed thereon. For example, the coin is numbered BI and the top 40 surface presents a shoulder area 62; a rump area 63; and a marginal depression area 64 between the upper line of the buffalo and the rim of the coin. Further the buffalo stands on a ground line 65 which becomes of use in practicing the 45 present invention.

Suitable instructions will accompany the slide wherever used to warn the public that the slide will operate only when a buffalo nickel is used and further that when said nickel is inserted in the 50 coin hole 35 of the slide 33 that the ground line 65 of the buffalo on the top surface of the coin should be in approximate transverse alinement with the tell-tale mark 36 on the slide 33. Ohviously, the buffalousurface of the coin should face upwardly under such condition. With the coin 6| thus inserted in the hole 35 it remains there in supported position on the edge of the lower hole 2| in the guide IS.

The next step in using this device is for the 60 operator manually to push the slide 31 inwardly relative to the stationary frame I 5 and guide part lfi which in the conventional manner is mounted in the wall of a vending machine or game, or the like having mechanism to be released by the slide. 65 As the slide 33 thus moves inwardly in its groove l8 the coin moves through the frame l5 and onto the platform 24, the carrier 39 in the meanwhile not moving because of the lost motion slot 40. The chamfered front edge 25 of the platform 24 serves to ride the coin easily onto the platform as the hole 35 gradually runs over said platform.

At this point in the movement the spring 23 is operative to press the top surface of the coin yieldingly and flatly against the under side of the carrier plate 39, The'cylindrical-feeler extension 56 of the lever 50 is pressed-by the spring-5T-down throughthe hole 4| as shownin Figure l'2-to fee1 the raised area- 62 the extensiom 55' on the lever 49 feeling the area 84 (see Figure-13): onthe coin; and-the arcuate feeler 54 on thelever 48 engaging the area-63-as shown in Figure -14. The-movement up or down of the head ends 5| of these three levers-is in this-instance-such that-they are held to pass lengthwise through the throat- 3'2- and past the abutment bars '29, 30- andbetween the latter two, For example, under the pushof the springs=51 the rear ends or heads-5lof the levers would; tend to; move' upwardly, but such movemerit in' the present case ofthe proper coin is resistedby the limiting action of the feelerson the opposite ends of the leversengaging the various three coin areas described:

At this point of the inward. movement of the slide 33 the front end of the s1ot-40 engages the carrier plate 39 to pick it up andmove-it with the slide for the balance of the-stroke. As" the carrier now moves with the slide the levers 48, 49 and 50 movewith it, and asthe heads5Ithe'reon are held by the feelers engaging thecoinin the correct-elevation, said heads'5 I and-the levers move rearwardly under the arch Z'I and between the cross abutments- 29,30. It: can now be seen that in this movement the feelersand coin do not move relatively to eachother. This is important asthe feelers cannot thus become worn.

Asthe slide 33 continues its stroke the'coin-is finally brought to position over the coin drophole26 i-nthe guide frame It; whereupon the, coin drops through said hole 2 6' and leaves-theslide structure. In the meanwhile. as the carrier3fl moved,- the spring 59 became stretched; After the'slide has completed its full stroke the operator pulls-the slide back and at the sametimethe spring 59 is operative toretur'n th'e'carrie'rand associated parts: to their normal position,

If the coin BI- is carelessly inserted into' the hole 35"by' not. quite lining upthe "lines. 651 and 36 the coin will.nevertheless'be'acceptedfby'the slide because" the feelers will still engage-in some portion of the respective areas62 63. or 64 on the coin. If a smooth sluglis used'of the proper diameter it'will' pass under the feelers and: at least oneof them willcaus'e the rear 'end 5 of a lever to-move down so that as the carria es moves in withthe slide one of the' notches 53 will abut} the iower bar 30 to prevent a full Stfoke of the slide 33. Under such condition of use the slug may be ma netic or non-magnetic, as-this -makes no. difference. All that can be done now is to draw'theslide 33' back and the' user'the'n must-remove the-fictitious coin by punching it upwardly with his-finger passed upwardlythrough the hole 2| in the guide frame. 7 N

If any subterfuge coin having anirregular surface configuration is attempted to be used we find one or the other of the feelers engaging the high and low places of the configuration to drop or lower one or the other of the heads 5l' to cause their notches 52, 53 to abut against either the upper stop bar 29 or the lower one 30. For example-if the spurious coin has a lowplace i n its surface configuration adjacent its rim the feeler 54 would' drop thereinto and cause the associated head 5| to move up so that its notch 52 would abut the bar 29. If the rim portion were too high the feeler 54 would rise causing the associated head 5| to drop to engage its lower notch 53 with the lower bar 30. The other two levers 49 and 50 Withtheir feelers would work the'same way on highand low places on the spurious coin.

From this disclosure it can now be seen that the control levers 48,49 and-53 are operated as surface configuration feelers or testers and the parts in 5 the-present embodiment are so designed that the ability of the slide to operate a full stroke is dependent upon the high and low areas on'the surface configuration of the buffalo nickel. Consequently should any coin or slug be used not 10 havingsuch high and low areas the levers would be raised or loweredto abut against the stop bars 29. As thelength of the levers is considerably greater rearward of their fulcrums' than forwardly thereof, a slight up or down movement at the feelers obviously becomes greatly augmented at the heads ends of the levers properlyto cooperate with the abutments.

Plainly, this slide for its operation never depends upon the thickness of the coin used, for any variation in the thickness thereof is compensated for by the upwardly spring pressed platform 24, saidplatform assuring at all times that thetopsurface will be at a level where the feelers can'properly ride over the high and low places in thesurface configuration. The hood 3'! serves as a guide and prevents the springs 5'4 from pushing the rear ends" of the levers 48, i and 5!! higher than is necessary.

It is the intention to cover herein all such changes and modifications not departing from the spirit and scope of the invention which is covered by'the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1'. A coinslide comprising a stationary horizontal guide frame, a coin moving slide slidably carried onthe frame, said slide having a coin receiving aperture, said frame having a recess on its under side, a yieldably mounted platform in therecess, said slide adapted to move a coin 40 onto said platform, a carrier as'sociated'with the frame above the slide and adapted to move with the slide, a lost motion connection whereby the slide may move part way independently of the carrier, said coin being pushed up against the under side of said carrierby the platform,'feeler means associated with the carrier to engage a coin-moved onto the platform, and an abutment mountedadjacnt the inner end of the frame and cooperable'with the feelers to control further operation of the slide.

2. A coin slide comprising a stationary horizontal guide frame, a coin moving slide slidably carried on the frame, said slide having a coin receiving aperture, said frame having a recess on its under side, a spring pressed platform located in the recess, said slide adapted to move a coin onto said platform, a carrier mounted on the frame above the slide and adapted for movement with the slide, means whereby the slide may move part way independently of the carrier, said coin being pushed up against the under side of the carrier by the platform, movable feeler means" mounted on the carrier adapted to engage the top" surface of a coin moved onto the platform s'aid' slide after the feele'r'means has engaged the coin moving with the carrier and feeler' means, and an abutment engageable by the feeler' means to stop further movement of the slide and carrier if the coin is not of the proper surface characteristics.

3. A coin slide comprising a horizontal channel-shaped guide frame, a coin moving slide slidably carried by the frame, said slide having a "coin receiving aperture, a spring pressed plat- Y5 form carried by the frame, a carrier plate mounted in the frame for sliding movement, said slide having a lost motion connection with the carrier plate and adapted to move a coin through the frame under the carrier and onto said platform, a pivoted feeler lever fulcrumed on the carrier and having a feeler extension adapted to pass through a hole formed in the carrier plate to engage the top surface of the coin, and an abutment associated with the frame, said carrier plate moving with the slide when the feeler is in coin engaging position, the surface configuration of the coin serving to hold the feeler lever in position either to abut the abutment or to pass it.

4. A coin slide comprising a horizontal elongated channel-shaped guide frame having a pair of grooves in each side edge thereof, a coin moving slide mounted in one set of grooves, said slide having a coin receiving aperture, a carrier slidably carried in the other set of grooves above the slide and having a lost motion connection with the slide whereby the latter may have independent movement, a spring pressed platform carried by the frame and adapted to press upwardly against the under side of the carrier, said slide adapted to move a coin fiatwise onto said platform under the carrier, feeler means engaging the top side of the coin and operable to assume a position determined by the coin itself, said carrier and slide moving together when the lost motion is taken up, and an abutment cooperable with said feeler means to prevent or permit a full stroke of the slide with the carrier depending upon the position assumed by the feeler means.

5. A coin slide comprising a horizontal elongated frame, a horizontal coin moving slide slidably mounted on the frame and having a coin receiving aperture, a carrier plate slidably mount- -ed on the frame and having a lost motion connection with the slide, a spring pressed platform associated with the frame and adapted to receive a coin moved thereon by the slide, said slide having its under surface grooved out to accommodate the platform over which it moves, feeler means carried on the platform to engage the top surface of the coin, said slide and carrier plate moving together when the lost motion has been taken up and abutment means associated with the frame and cooperable with the feeler means to permit or prevent a full stroke of the slide.

6. A coin slide comprising a frame, a coin slide slidable thereon and having a coin receiving opening, a carrier plate slidably mounted on the frame, a lost motion connection between the slide and carrier plate whereby the slide may move part of its stroke while the carrier plate remains stationary, a yieldable platform associated with the frame and adapted to receive a coin pushed thereonto by the slide, a plurality of pivoted feeler members carried on the carrier plate and having appropriately shaped extensions to pass through the carrier plate to engage a coin which is moved thereto by the slide and located on the platform, said feeler members assuming a position in accordance with the surface of the coin engaged, and a plurality of abutment elements arranged in spaced relation on the frame, said slide and carrier plate with the feeler members moving together when the coin is engaged by the feeler members, said abutment elements being passed by the feeler members when the coin is authentic to allow a full stroke of the slide and one of said abutment elements being 5 engaged by one of the feeler members when the 00ln is spurious to prevent a full stroke of the slide.

7. A coin slide comprising a frame, a coin slide slidable thereon and having a coin receiving opening, a carrier plate slidably mounted on the frame, a lost motion connection between the slide and carrier plate whereby the slide may move part of its stroke while the carrier plate remains stationary, a yieldable platform associated with the frame and adapted to receive a coin pushed thereonto by the slide, movable feeler means on the carrier plate to engage one surface of the coin on said platform, said feeler meansassuming a position in accordance with the surface of the coin engaged, and an abut-' ment associated with the frame, said slide and carrier plate with the feeler means moving together as the coin is engaged by the feeler means, said abutment being avoided by the feeler means when the coin is authentic to allow a full stroke of the slide and being engaged by the feeler means when the coin is spurious to prevent a full stroke of the slide.

8. A coin slide comprising a frame, a coin moving slide slidably mounted in the frame, a carrier mounting a plurality of independently movable pivoted spring pressed levers operatively associated with the slide, said levers having proximate ends at one end thereof located in a position to feel the surface of a coin moved thereto by the slide, a lost motion connection between the carrier and slide whereby the latter may have independent movement, said frame carrying a pair of spaced substantially parallel abutment bars spanning the slide with one arranged close to the slide and the other spaced therefrom, said slide moving the carrier and levers with it in the direction of the abutments when they are in coin engaging position, said levers having their other 4'5 proximate ends formed with spaced notches respectively arranged to complementarily cooperate with the spaced abutment bars, said notched ends of the levers passing between the bars when an authentic coin is moved by the slide, and'at least one of the levers having its notched end engage with its notches in either one or the other of the abutment bars when the coin is spurious.

9. A coin slide comprising a frame, a slide having a coin opening and slidable in said frame, a spring pressed feeling lever mounted on a carrier and. associated with the slide and having an end to feel a surface of a coin pushed thereto, said carrier having a lost motion connection with the slide whereby the latter has independent movement, a yieldable means operable on the coin for urging. the coin against the said feeler end of the lever, an abutment on the frame, said slide and lever moving bodily together when the lost motion is taken up and the coin is in feeler position, said lever having its other end moved relative to the slide into position either to avoid or abut directly against said abutment as the slide moves.

GUY O. LEGGE'IT. 

